Richard Willis Conservative Councillor in Reading has reported the short list for the Bracknell Open Primary as follows (Taken directly from Richard Willis site including links);
‘ Iain Dale – top Conservative blogger, author and publisher. Iain stood in Norfolk North at the last election.
Rory Stewart – author and former Army officer. I worked with Rory in the Foreign Office after the Iraq invasion. He was appointed Governor of Di Qar province in Iraq and is also famous for walking across Afghanistan in 2002
Kate Lindsay – was previously shortlisted for Hampshire East
Julia Manning – stood in Bristol East at the 2005 General Election
Philip Lee – a Doctor and project director of Conservative Friends of Bangladesh
Ryan Robson – an investment banker and Chairman of the Centre for Social Justice’s looked After Children Working Group.
Margaret Doyle – a Westminster Councillor‘
This list certainly contains some big hitters but interestingly no local candidates as there was in the open primary in Totnes in Devon were Dr Sarah Wollaston a local GP in Dartmoor. As reported here, Paul Bettison, leader of Bracknell Forest Borough Council is excluded from the shortlist.
Another interesting comparison to the Totnes open primary is the fact that postal votes were sent out to the constituents. However in Bracknell you have to request a ticket and turn up at the Blue Mountain Golf Centre to vote. This I expect could be down to cost but this could inadvertently affect the vote.
Because there will be many less members of the general public voting. A constituent can request a ticket and vote but I would expect most of the local conservative members to attend and indeed members of other parties giving them a greater influence on the vote for the next Conservative PPC member than they would of had in a more open public vote.
UPDATE: YOU DO NOT NEED TO REQUEST A TICKET. YOU NEED TO REGISTER AND THEN FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO YOU ONE WEEK BEFORE THE MEETING. VERY SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION.
Dale just covered this.
ReplyDeletehttp://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/09/why-id-like-to-be-mp-bracknell.html
Thanks for the link. A very good account of wht Iain wants to be an MP. Not sure I would with all the back stabbing and hate towards MP's.
ReplyDeleteHave applied for a ticket but nothing received yet. When will we get our tickets? We need to know in case the registration line hasn't worked. Or will this be subject to a shortlisting panel like the application to stand has been. This is about as much an open selection as a normal HQ vetting. Names imposed by Victoria Street or Cameron's private office.
ReplyDeleteExasperated. Can I suggest you phone the Conservative Office in Bracknell. 01344 868286. I wouldn't expect them to have sent out tickets.
ReplyDeleteThere is no shortlisting process for the audience. We all want as many people to attend as possible. No one has been imposed. The local party did the shortlisting from the 192 applicants.
Hi Exasperated, Iain Dale is quite right I have phone bu the local conservatives and they have confirmed that the details will be send to you a week before the meeting. All you need to do is register.
ReplyDeleteI was sent a ticket for the Andrew Mackay meeting and for some reason it just appeared to be a simular process but I was wrong.
Please accept my Apology
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ReplyDelete